Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks & Rec Board Minutes May 1_RB_rlcMINUTES WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING, May1, 2024 ______________________________________________________________________________ Location: Recreation Center Chair: Stephanie Magers Secretary: Beck Brownlie (standing in for Richard Cunningham). Board members present: Stephanie Magers, Sarah Barret, Beck Brownlie, Ryan Firth, Stephen Damiani, Laura (Lulu) Lopez, Maryann Grahmann, Samantha Morrison. Board members absent: Arlene Wells, Richard Cunningham, Lauren Griffith Staff: Susan White Council members: Shannon Carroll Visitors: David Beach (City Manager) I. Call to Order: Stephanie Magers called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. II. Citizen Comments: (None) III. Approval of the minutes from April 3 meeting: Sarah Barret moved to approve, and Beck Brownlie seconded. Unanimous approval. IV. Facilities Master Plan Update – Phase II: City Manager, Dave Beach Dave Beach gave the Board a background and overview to the Facilities Master Plan. The Master Plan was approved in 2022. An update on all the phases was given to the Board. Phase I is focuses on the new Public Works Maintenance Facility. Phase II involves the design for a civic center which includes a community building/senior center, and library. Phase III is a new Fire Station to be located on the current site of the library, community building and senior center at the corner of Auden St. and Rice Blvd. Fire engines will exit toward Friends Park on Auden; final bays of fire engines have not been determined. Won’t be a drive through station as more real estate would be needed. There is a need to relocate the fire station as facilities have to be ADA accessible. When the current station was built there was an exemption that is no longer in place. The new fire station will cost $8M to build, compared to $13M plus if current station was to be rebuilt. The City website has the full details and documents to date for the Board to peruse. There is an Urban Planning Survey currently out for feedback from residents on the community buildings and their needs, and everyone is encouraged to complete it. Closes on May 6. Action: Board members are to complete the current online survey and encourage their contacts to complete as well. There will be many meetings coming up to ensure the community is engaged. - May 14 Townhall meeting to go over the survey results. - 3 Townhall meetings in June for Phase II (June 4, June 18 and June 24) which the community are encouraged to attend. Details are on the City website. - November 12 Townhall for the Rec Center. V. Council Update: Shannon Carroll • Smart Water Irrigation update: New Smart water irrigation system approved at the recent council building. Grant from Harris-Galveston Subsidence District has been approved. Smart Irrigation controllers will replace the current controllers; these smart controllers can be operated by app on the phone. • Five-year Capital Improvement Plan There are projects that require funding. Tax rates have been steadily going down over the last 20 years, and it isn’t sustainable. Goal of council is to be frugal with tax money. Goal is to have steady tax rates to avoid ups and downs. Council is currently considering long term funding options. Shannon shared council presentation on funding proposals. Susan White will send Capital Improvement Plan to the Board. • Two recent Town Halls, covering the following: City drainage projects. East side drainage project is finishing up. Next phase is about to start on May 13, and will be the start of a two-year project. Poor Farm Ditch. Had presentation of what the design concept would be, from University to Holcombe. Construction would start soon; concept is 90% done. Still working with residents of Virginia Court. VI. Friends Overview: Sami Morrison, Friends Board Chair Star Citizen Award ceremony will be on May 8. The mayor will give the awards to the two co-chairs and their spouses for their involvement in the Park Lovers Ball. Dates for Fathers and Flashlights event – Nov 2 – Donna LaMond is sending out information to sponsors. VII. Parks & Rec Update: Susan White, Parks & Recreation Director i. Weir Park Installed new circle saucer swing at Weir Park. It will be adjusted as it is still very low to the ground. Progress is on schedule except for the delay of the shade structure. June 17 the park will open, which is still on target. ii. Fee Committee Update Laura Turley (Senior Board) is on the fee committee, along with Beck and Ryan. Susan White sent proposed fee information to the Board today. Action: Board is requested to review the fee information and send any comments to Susan so that discussion can happen with the fee committee. Discussed the waiver and proposed name of “scholarship”. Comment made that it sounds confusing, related to academia. Suggested new name of “financial assistance”. iii. Summer Events & Misc. o Centennial – May 4 – 4pm. The band is doing 45-minute sets. Ends at 8.30, when the drone show is being held. o Special events going on – May 5 open Colonial Park pool for members, Ice- cream social on June 6 – Party on the Patio o Kindness Award – introducing a way to be able reward kids when they are seen to be doing good things in the city. Kids will be able to turn their coins in at special events to redeem their reward. Kicking off the program at the Centennial Celebrations. VIII. Park Ambassador Reports & Remarks. • Edloe Street Pathway – Richard Cunningham • Huffington Park – Ryan Firth Had a report from neighbor – there was the most trash they had ever seen last weekend after a birthday party. The rubbish bins were overflowing. The neighbor and his family picked it all up. Question was asked as to who collected the trash. Susan White confirmed that during the week it is park maintenance, and on early Sunday morning there is a contractor that collects the rubbish and pet waste. Comment raised that after the weekend the West University Elementary School playground is also full of rubbish. Perhaps that early Sunday morning contractor could collect the rubbish from the school playground as well. Action – Beck to raise suggestions to Recycling team of the school (who are also on the City Recycling Board), find out if it is in the Parent-Teacher Organization’s budget. • Friends Park – Sami Morrison • Judson Park – Stephanie Magers. Someone threw the pickle ball net over the fence; the parks team should be notified. There are also a lot of branches from the storm still to be cleared. • Recreation Center – Rebecca Brownlie • Colonial Park East – Maryann Grahmann • Colonial Park West – Lauren Griffith • Colonial Park Pool – Stephen Damiani • Wier Park – Lulu. Can see work is progressing well. • Jennie Hughes Park – Sarah Barret • Whit Johnson Park – Arlene Wells IX. Order of Business • Old Business: (none) • New Business: (none) • Adjourned: 8:37 p.m. Unanimous.